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1954 JAGUAR XK120 ROADSTER
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Views
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Date Posted
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209
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May 22, 2008
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Price
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Type Listing
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$75,000.00
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For Sale
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Description:
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1954 JAGUAR XK120 ROADSTER
Many consider the XK-120 to be the first true exotic or "Supercar" for the masses. The MG TC may have been the car that introduced America to proper British sports cars when returning GI's dragged them stateside, and the TC indeed caused a ripple in the market for sporting cars. But the XK-120, when introduced in late-1949 with its certified top speed of 141.51 in testing and 120 mph advertised for production versions, caused one hell of a splash. It was the first affordable exotic car that people could actually get their hands on. Not to mention it was (and still is) one of the most beautiful cars ever built. Proof of this is a guarantee, some 50 years since its introduction that any time there is a "Best Of" or "Most Significant" list of post-war automobiles the Jaguar XK-120 will be on it. The example on offer here is from my personal collection, a car I have owned for approximately two years. Years ago, my father owned an XK-120 and since that time they have been on my "short list". The problem is, being a British car and all, most attempted to reduce themselves to a pile of ferrous oxide in short order. As such, finding and original, unrestored, never rusted 120 is the automotive equivalent of the old needle in a haystack routine. Famous for rusty sills, trunks, rotted wood door frames with the requisite corroded aluminum skins and the famous XK door sag, and the legendary makeshift home-brewed "quick fixes" well intentioned but financially challenged owners performed to most XK's over the last five decades or so has made the great cars very few and far between. 99% of the restored examples started with a potato chip sized chunk of rusty Jaguar, a chassis plate, a parts catalog, and a credit card. as good as restored cars look, and regardless of how many JCNA 99.9% awards they win, in most cases they teeter dangerously on the "recreation" designation as not much of the cars original DNA survives. Due to these factors, my search for a blue chip 120 OTS remained fruitless for many years. That was, until I was on a 1000 mile vintage road rally, sharing my car with friend and famous racer/ automotive authority Alain DeCadenet. Many of you know Alain from his phenomenal series "Victory by Design". Over perhaps a few too many cocktails one evening, the conversation turned to "great cars we should own but do not". I offered that I still lusted after an exceptional 120 Roadster, and asked if Alain could ask around to help find me one. Imagine my surprise when he offered that he in fact owned a sensational example and would be willing to sell it! A true car guy, Alain even happened to have a picture of this 120 in his suitcase. Turns out Alain found the car hidden in a garage in California, parked for 20 years after being hidden by its previous owner during his divorce. An original, unrestored car registered on California vintage blue plates "XK120SS", Alain purchased the car for his wife to use at their California home. After getting the car running and road worthy, he presented it to his "Mrs" who later decided she'd rather have vintage Mustang or 280SL. So the 120 was sitting in Alain's airplane hangar in California alongside his Spitfire (and not the Triumph version). A few more drinks, a handshake, and the 120 was mine. I had the car delivered to Milwaukee and was thrilled with what arrived - a virtual time-capsule 120, with mostly original black paint, with not a spec of rust or prior repair. And talk about an ultimate specification for a 120 - a true last year (1954), factory black over red OTS real Special Equipment (SE) car with painted wire wheels, factory dual exhaust, C-Type head, etc. Even the original leather wrap was on the rear leaf springs. A little servicing, a new set of proper reproduction Dunlop Road Speed tires (tyres?), a pair of 6V batteries, and a brake job and the 120 was up and running. Nothing sounds like a finely tuned XK six with the low-restriction SE exhaust. All of the Jaguar experts that have viewed the car are blown away by its originality and condition. Unfortunately, for the last year or so, the 120 has sat as other cars and commitments have filled my time. And a spectacular 120 as this deserves to be driven and enjoyed. So in a quest to get it much needed exercise and a little more room in my building, I have decided to offer it for sale. If you love originality like I do, this is your car. The paint is highly presentable, but also tired. She won't win a concours but the patina is magnificent and there is no question this car is the real deal. The red interior is original with the exception of the seat, which was recovered years ago and is honestly "too nice" for the car. A little use will cure that. The top is a ridiculous 1960's white vinyl job that needs to be thrown out, but if you're like me, it will never get put up anyway so why bother? The side curtains are in the trunk, as are the tools, jack, etc. The grille has a few loose teeth, and the carpet has two mouse holes. Mechanically it starts on the button and purrs like a proper cat should. However, after sitting I would strongly recommend flushing the hydraulics, changing the fluids, and giving the old girl a quick once over. A recent test drive suggests the brake master cylinder is sticking slightly, which I presume a little driving would cure as it was rebuilt along with the rest of the brakes <2 years ago. All of these precautions are offered as basic old-Jaguar caveats that I would tell anybody buying one. The good news is that 120's are incredibly stout and very simple automobiles, and very easy to keep in top shape. If you are at all like me, and appreciate the significance of an XK-120 OTS and the importance and near impossibility of finding a great original example like presented here, do not hesitate. I doubt either one of us will ever find another like it!
Price: $75,000.
For Sale by:
Colin's Classics Automobiles
Milwaukee, WI 53224
Phone: 414-964-3747
Email: colin@colinsclassicauto.com
Website: www.colinsclassicauto.com
Dealer: dlr00119
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Keywords:
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1954 JAGUAR XK120 ROADSTER
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Registered: May 2008
Location: Milwaukee Wisconsin